Car coupler



L. w. RAM'AGE GAR couPLan Filed Ju1y s, 1924 2 'sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 192s. 1.564.111

L. W. RAMAGE GAR GOUPLER Filed July 9, 1924 2 sheetssneet 2 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. l, 1925.-

PATENT oFF1cE.

LOCKHEART W. RAMAGE, OF ILFRACOMBE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.

CAR COUPLER.

Application filed July 9,

To all whom it may con-06m:

Be it known that I, LooKHnAR'r W. RAMAGE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing `at Ilfracombe, Queensland, Australia, haveinvented certain new i and useful Improvements in Oar Couplers,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a car coupler for automatically coupling freight cars, passen-` ger coaches and trucks together, but it is to be understood that a coupler in accordance with this invention can be employed for any purposes for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner-as hereinafter lset forth, a device of such class including` means whereby a lpair of cars can be quickly and automatically coupled together when moved in abutting relation with respect to each other.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a coupler of the class referred to, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, with a combined draft and coupling element coacting with av shiftable connecting bar for coupling a pair of cars together, and further with means for removably holding said connecting bar in operative position with respect to said element to maintain the cars in coupled relation.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling of the class referred to, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, with means for detachably holding the connecting bar in an elevated position to enable the shunting of one car relative to the other.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a coupling of the class referred to and in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, reliable', automatic in its action to couple, Athoroughly efficient inits use, readily set up with respect to a car, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. l'

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and 'modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

1924. Serial No. 725,001.

characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views z- Figure l is a perspective view of a coupler in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the Idevice, with the combined draft and coupling element omitted and further illustrating the connection bar in an elevated position when the device is set for shunting purposes.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the coupler.r

Figure 4e is a longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Figure 5 is a sectiony on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an inverted perspective view of a modified form of the body portion.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, in section, illustrating a spring controlled catch for the retaining bar.

A coupler, in accordance with this invention comprises a connecting bar, a retaining bar therefor, a combined coupling and draft bar, and a body portion providing a support for the connecting and retaining bars. The combined coupling and draft bar is connected to one end of the car and the body portion to the other end of the car. The combined draft and coupling bar cooperates with the connecting bar for the purpose of coupling two cars together. The combined draft and coupling bar, the retaining bar and theconnecting bar each is of substantial thickness and length and constructed of metallic material.

With reference to Figures l `to 5, the body portion'is in the form of an integral channel-shaped metallic casting of substantial width, length and thickness and comprises a bottom l, having integral therewith and projecting from the rear edge thereof a pair of spaced rectangular extensions 2, 3, formed with apertures l for the passage of hold-fast devices, not shown, for connecting sai-d eX- tcnsions to the lower face of a car truck.

Formed integral with the bottom 1, at each side thereof, is a pair of vertically eX- tending side members 5, 6, and with the member 5 of less height than the member 6. `The rear end of each of the members 5, 6, has formed integral therewith, a right angularly disposed rectangular flange 7, provided with openings 8 for the passage of hold-fast devices not shown, to secure In the drawings wherein like 'reference said iianges 7 to the car truck.

The side member 5, intermediate its ends, is formed with a 'vertically disposedy slotf which extends from the top edge 9 of the member 5 and terminates at a point removed frein lthe -bottom 1. The forward portion of the top edge 9 of the member 5 is inclined downwardly, as at 10, whereby the forward portion of the side member 5 will be of less height-thanfthe remaining portion thereof. Arranged at each side of theslot 8an`d lagainstthe-outer faceof-'the member 5, is afsupport f11,fixed`ly*secured in position by the 1vholdifast devices -and formed with `an opening 1B. "The openings 13'of said supports :are larranged in alignmentand Asecuredtherein is a stubi shaft 14, for apurpose toV be presently referred to.

The side member 6, intermediate itsends, has its A.top `Vedge KA15 'oppositely bevelled, fas at `16, 17, and "the said bevelled port-ions of said topY edge merge into the side walls of a vertically disposed slot 18, -wh-ich terminatesat la pointabove the bottom 1. "The forward portionf the `vtop vedge 15 lis inclined downwardly, as at 19, to reduce Vthe height of Y the forward portion of said y side member. y

Theslots `8 and 18 areprovided for the reception o'f la connecting bar20,*-wliich is of materially greater length than-thewidth ofthe body-portion. One en'd o'flthe bar 2O is connected tothe stub shaft Ailllav-an'dfthe latter provides a pivot therefor, -and `said bar-20 when in operative position -is 'supportedon thebottom-,oflthe-lslots 8 and f18,

in afmanner -assshown Vin lldigure E1. lhe bevelled portions -16 land 157 vfacilitate the entranceiof theconnecting bar'QO into the slot 18. 1

The point of Vjunction ofI eaclrof'the'side walls-ofthe slot 8 withathe top jedge9'of the side iinemberf 6 -is rounded, las -at 21, -to facilitate Jthe `Aentrance of the bar 1 20 -in the slotll8. Thepointof junction of each ofl the side 1walls of theV slot518 and abevelledportion 165or j17 is rounded, -as zit-'22.

-`-'Fi:redly 'secured `to the side -meniber- 6, f at a pointf between thef'slot 18 a'ndf the forward end -'tl iereof, -is 'a lpivot `28, upon which is mounted one ,end-cfa retainin-gbar 24-which cooperates -witlrthe connecting jbarf andperforms two functions, one of which is Ito maintain the connecting `rbar in operative position with Irespect to the Y'combined draft :and-coupling bar, andthe otherot' which is to "detachably support the connecting barinfanfelevated position when itis desired lto shunt one carwithlre'spect tothe other.

The pivot 23'- proj ects outwardly from the sidemember :6 `and carries-asecuring nutl 25 for the purpose ofmaintainin'glthe retaining bar onfthepivot. The-retaining bar24 has itsy outerportion-ofless ywidth-than its-inner portion, as at 26,'-and' by thisfarran'gementa inwardly bevelled. The bar 24; is of a length toextend yfrom vthe 'pivot .-23 to a point in proximity to the ange 7 on the side member.. See Figure 3.

As before stated, the side member 6 is of greater 'heightth'ankthe side member 5 and which permits of the setting up of the slot 1,8 vof greater length than =thelslot 8,iand las the connecting bar shifts upwardly when coacting with fthe* combined "draft andcoupling-bar, duringthe operationof coupling, the length ofthe fs-lot V"18 fprovides for fthe connecting bar remaining therein.' during its elevation orlwhen impact-edby the combined draft -|and -coupling bar `l`"during 4the act of coupling. i

:The combinedvdraft tand :coupling bar consists of stem i728 o'f #substantial length terininatingtatf its forward 'endl intaf tri-anglilar-shaped head 29 having iits l rear vend of materially greater height Ethan the Fhei-ght ofthestem 28. Thebottomk ffthe stem28 is iinsh 'withf the? bottom o'f the head 29,1 `and the latter` has'a-l rounded forwardfendf 30 Aand its topinclining upwardlyfand\rearwardly,

as. atf`31. The upper rear corner of the head 29 is rounded, las iat 32.

Witlr respect; to@ the 'modified form ofl body portion shown iniFigure G,^theintegral-extensions '2 -and 3are omitted, as xwell, asthe integral flanges V@7and in Ilieu thereof the body portion, which-` yis referred to generally by 'the ire'ference character 33, has :secured tolthe-l'ower 'face .of Aits bottomira pairr of spaced lengthwise; extending. flat reinforcing` bars 34, which extend from the forward odge; of the f b'odyzportion -and g project a substantial distance froinf the rear,` end r thereof, as `at E35. The projecting irearfend '35 of the bars f34 :is .provided iwith Openings 36, for the :passage of holdfa'st devices, fnot shown, to securethe body :portion 33 toV the car Struck. 'The ends -35 .of the bars B4; performa the same 4fnnction :asl the; extensions 2;-and-3- .Secured to thef'outerfface oftheside members of the #body portion V33 :at the lrear thereof, .is a pair of angleironsjBZ, fhavingpenin'gs 38 for theipassage ofholdrfast devices, 1 not llshown, to secure i thev body portion 33 to the truck. The angle ironsif37' performthefunction oftheiflanges 7. :The hold-fast fdevices "for @securing '#th'e ibars "34 to 1 thebody portion'BS are indicated f at :39' and the hold-'fast devices -f'for securing t'he angle-'irons to'the side members of the body portion 133 lare indicated at 39. "Otherwise than'that Eas'stated, the construction shown in Figure 4`6 -is fthe isame as *that f shown fin Figure l1 to '5. n

To prevent 'the accidentallelevation of catch 40 is adapted to extend over the rear portion 26 of the bar 2li. The spring controlled catch or latch 40 is mounted in a bracket 4l secured to the outer face of the side member 6.

When the coupler is used, the connecting bar 20 extends transversely of the body portion and is seated in the slots 8 and 18. As the ears approach each other the forward end of the head 30 engages under the connecting bar 20 and the inclined top edge 31 of the head 29 will raise the connecting bar 20 until said edge 31 clears the bar 20 whereby the bar 20 will fall by gravity upon the top edge of the stem 28 rearwardly of the head 29, whereby the coupling action will be completed. After the bar 20 lhas assumed the position shown in Figure l, the retaining bar is moved to the position Shown in Figures l and 3. When the connecting bar and combined draft and coupling bar are coupled together, the side walls of the slots 8 and 18 will provide abutments for the bar 20 when a pull is exerted on the car carrying the body portion or on the ear carrying the combined draft and coupling bar, so that a draft connection will be set up between the two cars.

If it is desired to release the cars, the retaining bar is shifted to the position shown in Figure 2, and the connecting bar elevated and mounted on the seat formed by the shoulder 27.

Although the coupler is designed primarily for use in connection with freight cars and passenger coaches, yet it is obvious that it can be employed for the cars of toy trains and further it is thought that the many advantages of a coupler construction, in accordance with this invention, particularly in view of its automatic action, strength, durability, simplicity and reliability, can be readily understood, and further although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

vWhat I claim is l. A car coupler comprising a channelshaped casing having apertured extensions at one end of its bottom and lateral apertured flanges at its sides, said flanges and' extensions positioned at the inner end of said casing for connecting it to a car truck, said casing further having each of its side walls intermediate its ends formed with a vertical slot opening at the top edge of the wall, a transverse connecting bar having one end pivoted to one of said walls, seating in said slots and capable of beino shifted clear of the other of said walls, a combined draft and coupling bar extending into said casing and having an enlarged triangular-shaped head at its outer end for elevating the connecting bar to a position where it may fall by gravity behind the head onto the draft bar tocouple said bars together, and a ref taining bar having its rear, end pivoted to the said other wall and seating on the free terminal portion of the connecting bar for maintaining it upon the draft bar.

2. A car coupler comprising a channelshaped casing having each of its side walls intermediate its ends formed with a vertical slot opening at the top edge ofthe wall, a transverse connecting bar having one end pivoted to one of said walls, seating in said slots and capable of being shifted clear of the other of said walls, a combined draft and coupling bar extending into said :casing and having an enlarged triangular-shaped head at its forward end for elevating the connecting bar' to a position where. it may fall by gravity behind the head onto the draft bar to couple said bars together, a retaining bar having its rear end pivoted to the said other wall and seating on the free end terminal portion of the connecting bar for maintaining it upon the draft bar, and means carried by that wall to which the retaining bar is pivoted for maintaining the latter against the connecting bar.

3. A ear coupler comprising a channelshaped casing having each of its side walls intermediate its ends formed with a vertical slot opening at the top edge of the wall, a transverse connecting bar having one end pivoted to one of said walls, seating in said slots and capable of being shifted clear of the other of said walls, a combined draft and coupling bar extending into said casing and having an enlarged triangularshaped head at its forward end for elevating the connecting bar to a position where it may fall by gravity behind the head onto the draft bar to couple said bars together, a retaining bar having its rear end pivoted to the said other wall and seating on the free end terminal portion of the connecting bar for maintaining it upon the draft bar, and releasable spring controlled means carried by that wall to which the retaining bai is pivoted for maintaining the latter against the connecting bar.

4. A car coupler comprising a channelshaped casing open at each end and having each of its side walls intermediate its ends formed with a slot opening at the top edge of the wall, a transverse connecting bar having one end pivoted to one of said walls, seating in said slot and capable of being shifted clear of the other of said walls, a combined draft and coupling bar extending into said casing and having an enlarged triangular-shaped head at its forward end for elevating the connecting bar to a position whereiit may fall by gravity behind the head onto the draft bar to couple said bars together, and a retaining :bar :having-its rear Yend piveted dto 'the said :other 'Wa-11 and seating fon the free fend terminal portion of the conneietimg bar for 1naintain'ing; Vitaupon the xdraft daar, :that .Wa-11 t0 Wh'idh :the reta-inin'g har is pivoted :having oppostely eX- tendn'g bevelled `portions dead-ing fto 'the slot therein .to facilitate the entrance foil .the eunn'ecting bar .into such slot.

5. .A Lear .coupler eomprsing a -eha-nnel-` shaped-easing open at eaeh end and fhaving each of its side .wal-:1s intermediate :its .ends formed with a slot opening-at :the `top edge of the wall, a :transverse .connecting Ibar havingene end pivotedto oneofsaid Walls, seating :in said slots :and fcap'able .o-f 'being shifted `e'lear lof ithe `other of said Walls. va combined ldraft land lcoupli-ng 'bar extended inte said easing and vhinviare .an enlarged tuiangulafrfshaped heed :aft .one end for ele' rating :the 'eennecting bar :to 1a :position where it fina-y :fall by gravity ,behind the head onto the draft bar to couple fsaid -bars together, and a retaining gbar lxegxtending length-wise ,of `said l.easing and laying its rear end pivoted to fthe' saidether side wall and seating .0n the ree ,terminal ipertion of the cenllectng bar tor maintaining it npr on sthe draft bar.,` Said .retaining tbar having its :lower Aside provided vwith a vshoulder for suppeltnig said `connecting fbar vin ,an ele.-

v ated positen when shifted .clear of ,that welll-0 which the retaining `har is' Ypivoted.y

In Ltestimony whereof, i .affix any signature hereto. e f LQIUKHEART RAMAGr-E 

